Shaft control mechanism



Feb. 16, 1954 R. T. cox 2,669,615 SHAFT CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RoBfRT 7. CO1 Y A T TORN Y Feb. 16, 1954 R. r. cox 2,669,615

SHAFT CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1951 2 Sheets-$heet 2 19 17 11 FL r INVENTOR. ROBRT T (9! 2O 18 Y Q f a zn ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 OFFICE;

2;669,615 SHAFT? CONTROL ME GHANISM Robert I Cox, Cdar Rapiils; Iowa, assi'g'norto' Collins Radio: Gompany,

corporation of Iowa Cedar" Rapids; Iowa, 8;

Application Jilly-1; 1951,.SeriaINb. 235630 7J'C1aims;= (Cl. 200-I'8) invention relatesin general to shaft positioning' mechanisms; and in particular t'oapparatus wherein it desired to set up a number of positions and remember" the settings.

It is oftentimes desirable to" control one or more shafts-ina: mannersuoh that-they. may: bereturnedto: apre-set position.- For' example; ina radio'receiver it may be desirahle to pro-tune to-a=plhra1ity-of frequencies; For example; apilotflyihg a'cross country; will find in desirable t0= change the frequency of his receiver from venous stations to oti-Iers-a'she=passes from one: area-i to another. Remembering the: different: frequencies puts an: undue strain onthe: pilot and it.- is# beneficial if he: can rotate a diali and-1 automatically select the correct freouency.

It is an object of this invention, therefore; to providemeans for" setting a control shaft-toat plurality-of pie-determined positions. Once the; positions are set, the operator: needsonly: to; turn. the main tuning selector dial to the. pre-sett channel and the: set will. be tuned automatically Another object of this invention. is to provide meanszforsetting controll switches. of: at saving schemez so: that the variouss positions. may berremembereds Yeti-another: objector: this: invention isxtot proviiiei aselector drum with: a; plurality of chan'. nels which control actuating switches for posi ti'oning a controlled shaft.-

Ytxanother object of this inventioir isto provide a c'odied d'rumwhich actuatespawls to set pins on a selector drum:-

Ai' feature-ofthis invention-is found in the pr'ofor aselector' drum" with a plurality of" rows of pins mounted longitudinally on the so" looton drum with each pin: engageahlke with a spring: that inrturn controls: the positions: of: a t'wor way switch. and a p'awl:- A" tuning drumv is: rotatably mounted adjacent the; selector. drum' and: is: engageableiwith the. opposite: endsof: the pawlsto position; the pins. various combina-- tionsrso. thatya-rious (combinations. of theswitches: may" be obtained;

Another feature of this. invention comprises azcamtshaftuponwhich the pawls; are supported: that may be rotated. to disconnect pawlsfrom the. pins, thus disconnecting. the tuning. drum from. the selector drum Further objects, features and advantages of] this invention will become apparent from the following description and claims" when read" in View of" the drewi'ngs;v in which;

Figure 1 is a top view illustrating"theselector" drum and" the tuning" dfrumof this" invention:

Figure2isa sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1 with thecam' shaft in the down position and tuning drum inthe down position;

Figure 3 isa' sectional view taken online 2 2 Figure 4; is a s'e'ctionalvie'w'taken on 1ine-2'-2' of Figure l with the cam shaft" inthe up" position-and the tuningdrum' in the downposition';

' and each" Figure 5 of] Figure 1 with theshaft in them) position and the tuning drum in the up position; and

Figures illustrates the control system of this invention.

Referring-to Figure 6, acontrolledshaft l'flhas mounted thereon a toothed stop' wheel H". A pawli2 is pivotally supported and has an engages-hie portion (3 for the stop wh'eel H positioned to anyof a predetermined'number of positions by positioning the pawl between particular teeth of the 1 stop wheel-l A relay I4 controls a pivotally supported arma-- ture i6 which is in turn mechanically connected to the pawl l 2;-.

A driving means is connected to ground and" therefore, the motor runswh'en therelay is energized.

The relay" is" connected"- power supply and to a selector switch, designated generally as 21, which is mounted on the controlled shaft m. The motor" I1 is connected to thecontrolled'sh'aft' l 0 through a clutch'20.

The switch-2iis'a wafer typeswitc'hwhich is well known to those'skilled' in the art; For a inoredetai'led descriptionof such a switch, ref

erence ma'y he made to-the patent to Richard 1 May" and Horst? Mi schweighofer; No. 2,476,137 Thef'selecto'r switch' 21 has" a' plurality oicontrolwiresfl'; 23, 24 an'dl2'5 coime'cted to it,

too; pivoted contactarm 2'6, 21; 28'and' 34. The

switches aresinglef pole' double throw, and the common contacts offeach' switchare connected togetherfand one set of contacts is connected to ground.

Thus, is provitldi a system for. positioning. a. shaft ['0' to any of a number of positions by setting the contacts 25, 21,. 28 and 29-in. various combinations of positions. As pointed" out in is a sectionalview taken'on-line 2-2- engaging the" teeth of" Thus, the shaft [0 may beiT as for example; anelec tricmot'or, has oneside connectedto' one side IE to the side' l8 of the control 1 wire is'connected', respectively,

Patent No. 2,476,673, it will be possible to obtain 2 1 positions, where n is the number of control wires of the system.

Thus, with the apparatus of Figure 6 by using four control wires, l5 positions corresponding to the various combinations of the settings of contacts 25, 21, 25 and 25 may be obtained.

This invention discloses apparatus for setting the contacts 25, 21, 25 and 29 to desired positions and remembering these positions so that they may be quickly obtained again.

As best shown in Figure 2, the switches 3i, 32, 33 and 55 are mounted to a holding bracket 36 by pins 31. The switches are microswitches with the contacts 25 through 29 extending from the body of the switch so that they may be actuated by moving them a small distance into the switch.

A plurality of springs 33 are connected to the holding bracket and extend past the contacts 26-29. The ends 35 of the spring are arcuately shaped. A pawl ll for each switch is mounted on a cam shaft 52 which has an enlarged offcenter portion 55 upon which the pawls H may pivot. The cam shaft 42 may be rotated ninety degrees to move the pawls upwardly, but when the cam shaft is in the down position as shown in Figure 2, one end 55 of the pawl engages the arcuate portion 39 of the spring 35 and the opposite end 55 engages the periphery of a set-up disc 41 mounted on a shaft 48.

A selector drum 35 is mounted on a shaft 5| and carries about its periphery a plurality of rows of pins 54. In each row or pins there is a pin for each switch.

With reference to Figure 1, it is seen that the selector drum 39 has a strip 53 which sets over each row of pins and which is supported by holding means 55 and 55 at either end. Slots are formed adjacent holding means 55 and 55 so that strip 53 may be moved longitudinally of the drum. A multiple spring Ed is attached to shaft 5i and biases all of the strips 53 longitudinally of shaft 5!.

A plurality of key-hole shaped openings 55 are formed in the strips 53 with an opening for each pin. As best shown in Figure 2, beneath each strip 53 are a plurality of pins 5 which are spring biased outwardly by springs 55.

The pins 55 are formed with a pair of collars l and '15 and may be held between strips 53 in either one of two positions. One of the positions is up with the strip 53 received between collars l and E5. The other position is with the pin in with the collar in engaging the under side of strip 53. The reason for this is that the keyhole shaped openings 55 formed in strips 53 are formed so that their larger portions allow the upper collar 55 to pass therethrough. The collars i5 are slightly larger than collars l5 and cannot pass through the larger portions of the keyhole shaped openings. The small portions of the keyhole shaped openings will not allow either collar to pass therethrough.

Normally, the spring 5'! controls the strip 55 so that the pins 54 cannot change position but will be retained in their previously adjusted position.

A lever arm 55 is pivotally supported by bracket 6| and has an engageable portion for moving the strip 53 against the spring 57 so as to allow the pins 54 to move upwardly or downwardly. The opposite end of the lever arm 60 is received in a cam slot 52 cut in a disc 53 mounted on cam shaft 42.

A knob 64 mounted on shaft 42 may be rotated ninety degrees so that the lever arm 60 will be pivoted by the slot 52, thus moving the strip 53 against spring 5? to allow the pins 55 to be free. The pawls H are supported by bearings 55 on the shaft 53 and their opposite end rests against the tuning disc ll.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, comprises two wire saving schemes with each scheme being a four wire system. Reference may be made to Patent No. 2,476,673 for a detailed description of a wire saving scheme. The switches 31, 32, 33 and 55 are the controlling switches for one of the wire saving schemes whereas switches 53, 51, 58 and 55 are the controlling switches for the other wire saving scheme. There are set-up drums "H and 32 for each wire saving scheme.

The set-up (or tuning) drum i2 is rotatably supported on a shaft 73 which extends through a hollow shaft 53 which supports drum H. The shaft '55 has a knob 15 attached to it, and shaft 55 has a knob l6 connected to it. The set-up drum ll carries combination discs All which are separated by spacers ll.

The discs ll on the set-up drum ll have high and low portions such that all the various combinations possible for switches 3i, 32, 33 and 34 may be obtained. In other words, the shaft 48 is rotatably in a detent fashion and in one position, for example, the disc ll corresponding to switch 35 may be in an up position, the second disc corresponding to switch 35 might be in a down position, a third disc corresponding to to switch 32 might be in a down position, and a fourth disc corresponding to switch 3| might be in an up position.

When the cam shaft 52 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the pawls fill control the positions of pins 54 and actuate the switches 3l-34. Thus, as shown when a low part of disc 4? is under the pawl engaging portion 55, the spring 38 is allowed to move upwardly to close switch 34 and pin 54 is allowed to move to the up position.

However, with cam shaft 42 in the down position and a high portion of the disc 4? engaging the pawl H, the spring 35 will be pushed downwardly forcing the pin 5 within the confines of the selector drum and the switch 34 will not be actuated. This condition is shown in Figure 3.

It is to be remembered that when the cam shaft 42 is in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, that the strip 53 is pushed against the spring 5? to free the pins 54.

When the cam shaft 42 is cammed to move the pawl 5i upwardly, the pawl loses control of the pins 54 and switches 5l-35 for the reason that the end of the pawl 55 does not engage the armate portion 33 of spring 38. locked in their old position when the cam shaft M is in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 4 shows the switch 35 in the unactuated position with the pin 55 in the down position.

Figure 5 shows the switch 35 in the actuated position with the pin 55 in the up position. It is to be noted that the pawl All does not control the switch or the pin and it is irrelevant whether the discs H are in the up or down position.

The shaft 5! may be rotated by the knob 58 to bring any of the strips 53 under the springs 38 to thus control the set-up of the switches 3l-34. Thus, the different strips 53 may be set-up for different shaft positions by rotating the knob 64 until the cam shaft 42 is in the down position corresponding to Figures 2 and 3. Knob 16 may The strips 53 are- 2; 689'; Gi l? their be-rotatedto set the particular combination desired:

The discs 4 1 through the pawls 41 will then position: the-- pins- 5 4'- for' the desired combination. Theknob- 64 may: 53 thus allowing themtolock the pins in their position corresponding to the desired setting.

'Ihe'l'ever arm fitl has a quick releaseactiondueto=theshape of the slot 62 sothat the pins 5d will be locked by thestrip 53 before the=pawls=41 are raised so that thepins which are downwillremaindownafter the'cam shaft 42 ism'ovedto its upposition.

Thecombinationset in the particular strip 53 Will be remembered and the next strip may be rotated under the springs 38 by rotating the-shaft it with the knob 58;

The: shaft 48' may beturnecft'oplace'a new de-: sired com bination for theseccnd strip and cam shaft 4 2- rotated tothe down position shown in Figures and- 3'.

This procedure may-be carried out until allof the desired shaft positions are encoded on the selector'drum. It is tobe understood, of course, that the knob 14 controls thedrum 1'2 for simultaneously setting up the switches 66- through- 69.

It is seen that the relation between the two wire saving systems comprising the switches 3| through 34, and 86 through 69-, may be arranged so that the end result is that the position of the-shaft 5 will controltwo shaft positions in a d'esired manner;

Oncethe'set-up operation has been completed, theknob' 64 is turned to the position shown in Figure 1 andthe set positions are remembered by-the selector drum.

Figure 2 illustrates only eight positions for the selector drum, however, any larger number of strips 53 may be placed on the drum.

It is seen that this invention provides means for setting remembered positions on a selector drum such that particular shaft positions may be obtained later when desired.

An example of the operationof the apparatus is an airplane where it is desired to tune a radio receiver, or transmitter to anumber of different frequencies prior'totake off.

The selectorxd'rum may be tuned to the desired channels-by using the various combinations of. the? discs 47 corresponding to the desired frequency. After the selector drum is set up, the frequency. for each positionof the selector drum may be noted and a data sheet made for use during flight.

After take-off the flight personnel may tune their communication equipment merely by rotating the knob 58 to the position corresponding to the pre-set frequency. It is to be realized, of course, that the settings may be changed during the flight. However, normally there will be sufficient channels set for the flight.

It is to be realized that when the cam shaft 42 is rotated to the down position, the pins 54 will be changed to the new position corresponding to the position of the shaft 48.

Although this invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pre-setting a plurality of control switches so that the settings may be remembored comprising, a selector drum rotatably supthen be rotated to-free strips" ported; a plurality of strips mounted longitude nally of said selector-drum andeach strip'formed with" a plurality of' key-hole" shaped openings, a

pin-mountedin the selector drum below each key hole opening, a collar formed on said pins and engageable with said strips, first springs beneath said pins urging them outwardly, a second: pillmounted'adj-acent said cantilever springs and engageable therewith.

22 Apparatus for controlling the setting of a plurality of control switches comprising, a selector drum-rotatably supported by a shaft, a knob connected toone end of said shaft, a plurality of strips mounted longitudinally about the periphe'ryof'said selectordrurn and-formed with aplurality of key-hole shaped openings, a pluralityof pins supported in said selector drum with a pin' beneath each key-hole shaped opening, flex"- ib'l'e means urging said pins outwardly, a collar formed on said'pins of a' size large enough to be engaged. by the small portion" of the key-hole openings but small enough to go through the large portion of the key-hole shaped openings, said'strips movable longitudinally of the selector drum, multiple spring means urging said strips to a pinlocked position, a plurality of cantilever springs supported adjacent the selector drum with their free ends engageable with one row of said pins, a controlled switch mounted'ad'jacent each of said'cantilever springs and'engageable therewith so that they may be opened or closed? in response to the position of said pins, a cam shaft with an off-center portion rotatably mounted adjacent said selector drum, a plurality of pawls rotatably supported on the off-centerv portion. of said cam shaft and having one end engageable with said pins in the cam down position, a tuningdrum rotatably supported adjacent said cam shaft and carrying a plurality of set-up discs thereon, and the other end of said pawls en- 4 gageable with said set-up discs.

3. Apparatus for pre-setting a plurality of con.- trol switches, comprising, a holding bracket supporting said controlswitches, an actuating button extending from eachof said control switches, a.

plurality of cantilever springs attached to said holding bracket and engaging the actuating buttons. of. said. switches, a selector drum rotatably supported, a plurality of longitudinal strips mounted about the periphery of the selector drum with each of said strips formed with a plurality of key-hole shaped openings, multiple spring means engaging said strips, a pin under each key-hole shaped opening, each pin formed with a collar small enough to pass through the large portion of the key-hole shaped opening and large enough to be retained by the small portion of the key-hole shaped opening, a plurality of flexible springs urging each of said pins outwardly from the selector drum, the free ends of said cantilever springs engageable with said pins, a cam shaft with an off-center portion rotatably supported adjacent said selector drum, a plurality of pawls rotatably supported on said cam shaft on the off-center portion, a knob attached to the cam shaft to rotate it degrees from the up position where the pawls are disengaged with the cantilever springs to the down position where the pawls are engaged with the cantilever springs, a tuning drum rotatably supported adjacent said cam shaft and supporting a plurality of set-up discs, and the opposite ends of said pawls engageable with said set-up discs.

4. Apparatus for controlling the setting of a plurality of control switches with actuating contacts comprising, a holding bracket supporting said plurality of switches, a plurality of cantilever springs attached to said holding bracket with a spring adjacent each of said switches and extending past them to engage their actuating contacts, a selector drum rotatably supported, a plurality of strips mounted about the periphery of said selector drum and movable longitudinally relative therto, a multiple spring engageable with said strips to spring bias them longitudinally of said selector drum, a plurality of key-hole shaped openings formed in each of said strips, a pin mounted in the selector drum under each keyhole shaped opening, a pair of collars formed on said pins, flexible means urging said pins outwardly from the selector drum, the first of said collars being small enough to pass through the large portion of the key-hole openings but large enough to not pass through the small portion of the key-hole openings, the second collar being too large to pass through the key-hole shaped openings, the free ends of said cantilever springs engageable with said pins, a cam shaft with an oilcenter portion rotatably supported adjacent said selector drum, a knob connected to said cam shaft to move it from an up to a down position, a plurality of pawls rotatably supported on the off-set portion of said cam shaft, and one end of said pawls engageable with the cantilever springs, a disc mounted on said cam shaft, a cam slot formed in said disc, a lever arm pivotally supported between the cam shaft and the selector drum and with one end engageable in said cam slot and the other end engageable with one of said strips to move it longitudinally of the selector drum against the multiple spring, a tuning drum rotatably supported adjacent the cam shaft, a plurality of set-up discs supported on said tuning drum, and the opposite ends of said pawls engageable with the set-up discs.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said tuning drum is formed in two sections with each section rotatable relative to the other and with each section carrying a plurality of set-up discs.

6. Apparatus for controll ng a plurality of control switches in different combinations comprising, a holding bracket supporting said control switches, a cantilever spring for each of said switches mounted on said holding bracket, said springs engageable with the switches to actuate them, a selector drum rotatably supported adjacent the free ends of said cantilever springs, a plurality of strips mounted longitudinally about the said selector drum, said strips movable longitudinally of said selector drum, a multiple spring engageable with the ends of said strips to urge them toward one end of said selector drum, a plurality of key-hole shaped openings formed in said strips, a pin supported in said selector drum beneath each key-hole shaped opening, said pins formed with a pair of collars with the first collar small enough to pass through the larger portion of the key-hole opening but not the smaller portion of the key-hole opening, the second collar too large to pass through the key-hole shaped opening, flexible means urging said pins outwardly from the selector drum, the free ends of said cantilever springs engageable with said pins, a cam shaft with an off-center portion rotatably supported adjacent the selector drum, a plurality of pawls rotatably supported by said cam shaft on the off-set portion, one end of said pawls engageable with the free ends of the cantilever springs, the cam shaft movable from an up to a down position, a disc supported on the cam shaft and formed with a cam slot therein, a lever arm pivotall supported between the selector drum and the cam shaft with one end engageable in the cam slot and the other end engageable with one of said strips, a first tuning drum rotatably supported adjacent the cam shaft, a plurality of set-up discs supported by said tuning drum, a second tuning drum rotatably supported adjacent said cam shaft, a second plurality of set-up discs supported by said second tuning drum, a portion of said pawls having their opposite ends engageable with said first set-up discs, and the remaining pawls having their opposite ends engageable with the second set-up discs.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first and second tuning drums may be rotated relative to each other to independently control two sets of control switches.

ROBERT T. COX.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,169,039 Defandorf et a1 Aug. 8, 1939 2,359,059 Somes Sept. 26, 1944 2,476,673 May et a1 July 19, 1949 

